Why opposition politics in Kenya and most African countries could be on its death bed

As Kenyans watched while two smiling leaders stood on the doorstep of Harambee house, the seat of government, and shook hands in March last year, the vibrant opposition in the country which had kept the government on its toes stared at extinction. The now famous handshake has deflated the fire from the opposition side as Raila Odinga now acts and sings the tune of a partner to the government while his foot soldier Kalonzo Musyoka has gone a step further and called for a government of national unity. What remains of the opposition in this country might also be counting days to the cooperation.

In Tanzania, the amiable and ever smiling President John Pombe Magufuli has gone a step further and is proposing changes to the political parties act that will almost make it criminal for the opposition parties to perform as pressure groups or to receive funding from donors. If he gets his way with the amendments, the president will also make sure civic education by ant political party will be cleared by the registrar of political parties. This in a country where the opposition leader, Edward Lowassa, who gave Chama Cha Mapinduzi where Magufuli a run for its money in 2015 sought out the President to make peace. This could have been informed by an urge to safeguard his heavy investments in the country.

It is the same song in Uganda where President Museveni and his NRM might have criminalised opposition politics. Dr Kizza Besigye’s lights have already been dimmed and he is now almost forgotten. The youthful Bobi Wine is already showing signs of fatigue and it is only a matter of days before the battering he is enduring cow him to submission.

Burundi’s opposition operates in exile and the no nonsense Pierre Nkurinziza has no formidable opposition. Across in Rwanda, the only opposition party, the Democratic Green Party of Rwanda has only two members of parliament which is a big plus in this country of the stoic President Kagame.

It will be no wonder then if most African countries led by the East African region reverts back to de facto opposition politics. This will be a big step backward considering the issues that led to the clamour for multi-party politics in the continent and the removal of dictatorial strong men glaringly exist.